»06/05/2012CHINA - RUSSIAVladimir Putin in Beijing with Eurasian trade in mindby Wang ZhichengIn his first state visit since his re-election as president, Putin will sign 17 major business and trade deals to boost bilateral trade to US$ 100 billion by 2015. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation can also enhance trade and security and build an influential Eurasian region that could shape reforms of the international monetary and financial system.

Beijing
(AsiaNews) - Chinese President Hu Jintao met Vladimir Putin today. The Russian leader
is on his first visit to China since his re-election as president of Russia. The
visit is set to last until 7 June and is part of the 12th summit of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) scheduled for tomorrow and Thursday.

The
Russian leader is taking to Beijing six cabinet ministers, the head of gas
giant Gazprom and other energy companies. Some 17 major business and trade
deals between Russia and China are expected to be signed in Beijing. Bilateral trade
is expected to reach US$ 100 billion in 2015 and US$ 200 billion by 2020

For
international media, the Syrian crisis was probably a major issue in talks
between Putin and Hu. Although both Moscow and Beijing oppose any foreign
military intervention in the Mideast country, the meeting has even greater
geopolitical relevance. Closer economic ties between China and Russia would
create an alliance between a fast-growing energy-hungry country and an
energy-rich nation,

In
an editorial Xinhua stressed that
such an alliance would make "the Eurasia region one of the most dynamic parts
in the world."

The
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is one way of doing that. Established in
2001 to increase security and counter terrorism (especially Islamic), it
originally had six members, namely China, Russia and four former Soviet
republics (Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan). But rapidly, the
organisation took on an economic function.

At
present, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan have observer status within SCO
whilst Belarus and Sri Lanka are partners. Tomorrow's meeting will see
Afghanistan and Turkey join as observer and partner respectively.

The
summit will also push for a regional bank and a transnational transportation
network.

For
Xinhua, SCO is becoming an
increasingly "influential regional grouping" with security and economic
cooperation as its "two wheels".

Closer
ties between China and Russia would also give SCO greater influence in possible
reforms to the international monetary and financial systems.

IRANTime for a deal with Tehran, a reliable partner against the Islamic State groupby Bernardo Cervellera
A framework agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue has to be inked by 31 March. US Republicans, Israel and Saudi Arabia are fiercely opposed to it for ulterior motives. Hassan Rouhani wants Iran to come back into the international fold. Tehran is playing a mediating role in the Middle East. For Vatican nuncio, “there is no evidence that Iran is preparing a nuclear bomb.”

CHINA-VATICANNothing to toast between China and the Vatican: Beijing wants complete controlby Bernardo CervelleraFor the Global Times (the People's Daily) China does not like the "Vietnamese model" of agreed episcopal ordinations. The Chinese Foreign Ministry’s embarrassment in front of the Holy See’s countless efforts. China wants the Vatican to accept all excommunicated bishops and to keep silent on those who are underground and imprisoned. The case of Msgr. Cosma Shi Enxiang. Without religious freedom, diplomatic relations are pointless. The work of mission and the unity of Catholics in China. A task for Xi Jinping: implement the anti-corruption campaign in the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Patriotic Association, which have grown rich over the decades on the backs of Christians.